If you have ancestors in Delaware, you have probably encountered the term “hundred.” Many of my clients ask me what the term means, so I thought an explanation was in order.

A “hundred” is basically a portion of each county. The hundreds were used as assessment districts for taxation purposes. There is much speculation as to the origin of the term, but no one answer has been discovered. Some believe the term was based on 100 families, while others believe it was 100 homes or farms. Still others believe a hundred was comprised of 100 men to be called to bear arms—a militia unit.

Regardless of the origin, the hundreds of Delaware are still used today. Property records and tax records of today contain the name of the hundred. Delaware is the only state to use the term today.

You might be wondering why hundreds could be important to your research. One very good reason is where your ancestor lived may be one way to differentiate him or her from other persons of the same name. Another reason would be to help pinpoint exactly where your ancestor lived. And if you plan to use tax lists in your research, knowing the hundred is imperative.

The names of hundreds changed over time. And some hundreds were not formed until the late 1870s. Below is a brief history of each county and its hundreds. (1)

New Castle County
Appoquinimink Hundred, established 1682
Blackbird Hundred, established 1875, formerly part of Appoquinimink
Brandywine Hundred, established 1682
Christiana Hundred, established 1682
Mill Creek Hundred, established 1710
New Castle Hundred, established 1682
Pencader Hundred, established 1710
Red Lion Hundred, established 1710
St. George’s Hundred, established 1682
White Clay Creek Hundred, established 1710

Kent County
Dover Hundred, established 1823
Duck Creek Hundred, established 1682
East Dover Hundred, established 1859 from parts of Dover Hundred
Kenton Hundred, established 1869 from parts of Duck Creek and Little Creek Hundreds
Little Creek Hundred, established in 1869 from parts of Duck Creek Hundred
Milford Hundred, established 1830 from parts of Mispillion Hundred
Mispillion Hundred, established 1682
Motherkill Hundred, established 1682 and became known as Murderkill Hundred
North Murderkill Hundred, established 1855 from the northern portion of Murderkill Hundred
St. Jones Hundred, established 1682
South Murderkill Hundred, established 1855 from the southern portion of Murderkill Hundred
West Dover Hundred, established 1859 from parts of Dover Hundred

Sussex County:
Baltimore Hundred, established 1775 from parts of Worcester County, Maryland
Broad Creek Hundred, established 1775 from parts of Maryland and Dagsborough Hundred
Broadkill Hundred, established 1696
Cedar Creek Hundred, established 1702
Dagsborough Hundred, established 1773 from parts of Maryland
Georgetown Hundred, established 1863 from portions of Broadkill Hundred
Gumborough Hundred, established 1873 from parts of Broad Creek and Dagsborough Hundreds
Indian River Hundred, established 1706
Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, established 1692
Little Creek Hundred, established 1774 from part of Somerset County, Maryland
Nanticoke Hundred, established 1775
Northwest Fork Hundred, established 1775 from parts of Maryland
Seaford Hundred, established 1869 from part of Northwest Fork Hundred

One comment on “A Hundred Here, a Hundred There…”

My wife Vickie descends from Philip Joseph Betts (1774-1839) and Betsie Dodd. They are her 4th great grandparents. We believe he is the son of Johnathan Betts (1745-1824) and Molly Betts. We also believe he had at least the following children: Johnathan, born in 1792, Henry W. whom Vickie descends from, born in 1820 and Joseph Smith, born in 1822. They were living in Broad Creek Hundred. Any information you might have is greatly appreciated. Thank you.